CallingThem Out: Nobody should pay for new ballots; just meet the deadline

Judges, lawyers and candidates for Bay County district judge have before them the case of the ballot bucks.

As a June 2 ballot-printing deadline nears for absentee ballots, nobody wants to be held responsible for the cost of missing that deadline as district judge candidates argue over whether Jennifer Cass Barnes should have the designation of “incumbent” next to her name on election ballots.

Make that Judge Barnes, after her investiture ceremony Monday at Bay City’s State Theatre.

How about nobody pays for reprinting the ballots, and all of the attorneys and judges involved do the utterly unexpected and light a fire under this argument?

Bring it to a conclusion by the printing deadline.

As deadline jockeys such as newspaper people can tell you, working within a strict schedule is difficult, sure. But not impossible.

The ballot deadline is one that nobody would want to miss. Approaching the Tuesday hearing on the incumbency question before Saginaw Circuit Judge Fred Borchard, none of the players would accept responsibility for the $50,000 cost of reprinting the ballots if the deadline is missed.

Barnes’ Saginaw attorney said neither the candidates nor the county should be held responsible. Candidates Stevens J. Jacobs and Mark E. Janer are challenging the incumbency designation after Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed Barnes to the post late last month, just as the election season began.

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox also chimed in: The state isn’t responsible for the cost, if ballots need to be reprinted.

Well. We wouldn’t expect any attorney to throw in a $50,000 towel so early in the game.

So how about just planning to meet that deadline?

Judge Borchard said he’s fully aware of the need for speed. Good.

If it goes to the Court Appeals, the same urgency should apply. Ditto, the Michigan Supreme Court.

It’s in the public’s interest to get this important question settled — on time, and crucial in these tough times, within budget.

Meet the deadline, or negotiate a new one with the printer.

Or everyone connected with this case should share in paying the penalty.